So you want to go Steampunk?
By Jasmine Ferrell, Staff Writer
@JasmineInBoston
Since the dawn of time there have been subcultures, or at least I would assume so. I mean back in the cave man days I’m sure there were jocks, in the renaissance some sort of minstrel society and now there’s Steampunk. So if you feel like you lost in your life and need a new niche, why not give this a shot? Even though steam punk culture has been around since the late 80’s, it’s never too late to jump on the bandwagon. But before you jump, it’s best to be prepared. Here the basic of all things Steampunk.
What is it?
Even steampunk.com has a hard time defining it, but in short, it’s juxtaposition between the romance and the mechanics of the 1800’s. Think rebellious Victorians who have a fondness for all things metal.
How did it start?
It originally was a literary movement, with science-fiction books written back in the 1960’s and 70’s. It was Jeter, an author at the time, who coined the actual term in order to group his and other similar works at the time. All these books played with ideas like an alternative past and steam-based technology, but also imitated actual conventions of Victorian speculative fiction.
What should one wear?
Goggles. Goggles are huge in steam punk and are instant identifiers. But other than that just remember typical Victorian wear and rough it up a bit with mechanical accents. That means snappy vests, top hats and over coats for the lads; corsets and lace for the ladies. Why we would bring back corsets… as a woman, I’m not rightly sure.
What does one do when all duded up?
Well the real question is what does one not do. With the explosion of steam punk culture (there’s an episode on ANTM about it, it’s pretty big) there has been an equal outburst in steam punk activities. Besides all the classic movies and books, there’s also games, expos, music, art and of course the invention of gadgets.
Is it necessary to have said gadgets?
I’m no expert, but just look at all the pictures. If you don’t have a proper gadget you better have some pretty elaborate goggles.
All in all, Steampunk is a complex but ever growing sub culture, and even if you decide to refrain from strapping yourself up in leather and bronze…you should at least know what it is. Plus if you do happen to be handy with making custom goggles or corsets, there’s huge profit potential in this market.
A Panic! At The Disco video in which Steampunk style is used:
The Daily Free Now 
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